Booth or stall for voting



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. W. 8v G A. SHRAG'UR.

BOOTH OR STALL FOR VOTING.

Patented Aug. 8 1893.

h-wl

4 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN W. SHRAGUE AND GUSTAVUS A. SHRAGUE, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

BOOTH OiR STALL FOR'VOTING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 502,778, dated August 8, 1893. Application filed January 20, 1892. Serial No. 418,632- (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN W. SHRAGUE and GUsTAvUsA. SHRAGUE, both citizens of the United States, and residents of Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Booths or Stalls for Voting, Writing, and other Purposes, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates more particularly to that class of structures known as votingbooths or compartmentsfor secretly marking ballots for election purposes, the novel features of construction thereof being fully hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the claims. 4

In the accompanying drawings-Figure l is a perspective view showing one of the preferred forms of our invention, as it appears in use; Fig. 2 a plan of the same; Fig. 3 a front elevation showing .two of the apart-- ments seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 a transverse sectional plan on linel, 1, of Figs. 1 and 3 to clearly show one mode of hinging or pivotally connecting the several partitions together at their inner edges; Fig. 5 a full-size broken, sectional plan, on line 00, m, of Figs. 1 and 3, showing one manner in which the respective writing-shelves are hinged and de tachably connected or fastened in place for use; Fig. 6 a broken, sectional elevation on line 2, 2, Fig. 5, taken in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 7 a detail elevation showing one of the partitions of the structure seen in Fig.

1, with its hinged writing leaf or shelf folded back within the corresponding opening or blank-recess in said partition; Fig. 8 a perspective view of our improvement, showing the manner in which it is folded up when not in use; Fig. 9 a detail elevation, similar to Fig. 7, of a single partition, showing a triangular writing leaf or shelf with its three sides straight, the one shown in said Fig. 7 and the previous views, having a round fore edge, or describing an arc of a circle of which the inner edge of the partition may be the center; Fig. 10 an elevation similar to Figs. 7 and 9, showing a plain partition without any part thereof being removed to form the said writing leaf or shelf, a shelf constructed independent thereof being necessary, and in any suitable shape; Fig.

11 a perspective view of a modified form of booth in which the radial partitions are rigidly supported upright with the writing-shelves permanently supported by and between them, thus forming a rigid structure not capable of being folded or readily dismantled, but in a limited measure portable; Fig. 12 a detail elevation showing a blank partition (omitting the shelf and all fastenings) in its preferred form; and Fig. 13 a bottom view of one of the shelves, showing an iron bar diagonally across it, by which it may be reinforced against accidental splitting or breakage.

Our election or voting booth is preferably composed of a circular series of apartments or inclosures formed and divided from each other by means of upright radial-partitions A, and horizontal spacing shelves or leaves B, the latter serving as supports or desks for the respective voters in preparing their ballots. Partitions A are preferably hinged or pivotally connected together at their inner vertical edges, at a common center, so that they may be spread or arranged at suitable distances or sectors apart in a circular line, and receive spacing-shelves of widths to suit, (the fewer the partitions, the fewer the shelves, and the consequent greater width of said shelves, that is, when the circular series of apartments is maintained complete.)

a a, a a, and a a represent hinges whose leaves or plates are countersunk and screwed in the several radial partitions, whereby said partitions are pivotally united at their rear edges and swing in either direction to suit the size of the shelf used, or whereby they may be folded up into small compass, one flatly upon the other, the latter advantage being clearly shown in Fig. 8. The pair of hinges a aconnect the partitions numbered 1 and 2, (seen in the first four views and Fig. 8;) the pair of hinges a a are secured out of line with said hinges a, a, and connect the partitions numbered 2 and 3, (also seen in said views,) and the pair of hinges a a are secured in the same plane as those a, a, and

8, or readily unfolded and set up for use, as seen in Fig. 1.

Each of the shelves B is preferably of mixed triangle form, that is, it is a sector of a circle formed by two radii or straight sides and the included arc, the said radii being the edges which are placed contiguous to the faces of the partitions to which they are attached. We prefer to out each shelf from the several partitions themselves, therebyforminga notch or recess in the edge of each partition and pivotally attach one straight edge thereof to the adjoining horizontal edge of the recess in the partition, at a suitable height from the bottom, by means of hinges 1),?3, the other straight edge thereof being provided with the catch Z) of an ordinary bedstead-fastener, which catch engages the socket b of said fastener whereby said shelf is firmly held and locked in a horizontal position for use. When all the shelves are set horizontally and locked in place for use, all the partitions are thereby rigidly and compactly held upright with the desired space or inclosure between each pair, one inclosure being completely shut off, or separated from the other, and enabling each voter to prepare his ballot in perfect privacy and without contact, annoyance, observation, or sight, from the voters in the other apartments.

The radially disposed partitions, with the triangular spaces between them, are especially adapted to permit the light to fall from the front on the several shelves with the least possible, if any, shadow, thus enabling the voter to clearly see his ballot and readily prepare it for casting. It will be seen, that each triangular shelved-inclosure is especially adapted to support the ballot before the voter, at the angle at which he is accustomed to arrange his writing material and perform the act of writing, thus tending to obviate any material obstruction of the light from the front, and providing ample room for his ballot.

The circular cluster or series of radial partitions, and the intermediate triangular shelves supported thereby, form a correspondingly circular cluster or series of voting inclosures or stalls, concentrated in a very small space, all of which inclosures, and particularly the surfaces of theirwritingsh elves, can be very readily illuminated by means of a single light 0, suspended or placed centrally above the booth, as clearly shown in Fig. 1, in which view an incandescent electric-lamp provided with a suitable reflector or canopy is suspended over the center of the booth, and sheds its light without shadow over all said shelves. Notches C are made in the upper inner corners of the several partitions to form a suitable socket to contain and support a lamp or other suitable illuminator provided with a shade, where it is inconvenient to suspend a light from above.

The several partitions and shelves forming our voting-booth may be folded up into very small compass, when not in use, by simply disengaging the catches b from their respective sockets b and dropping each shelf on its hinges down within the corresponding opening or space in the partition from which it was first removed and constructed, as above stated, both faces of said shelves being flush with both faces of their respective partitions. The partitions are then folded or turned toward each other on their hinges and brought together, face to face, one upon the other, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, thereby practically occupying no more space than so much lumber laid flatwise, one board on the other. A suitable notch or recess 0 is cut in the lower edge of the hinged side of each shell, as clearly shown in Fig. 6 to clear the pendcut portion of the socket-plate b on the partition to which it is attached, when it is desired to lower the shelf and fold the structure. These parts, in their folded condition, may be suitably bound or tied by a surrounding rope or twine, or other desirable means, to prevent their swinging open or otherwise separating, to cause damage or inconveniencein handling. Many of these booths can thus be packed and stored away in comparatively small quarters, ready for immediate use at any time, and easily handled without danger of damage to themselves or surrounding objects, and also readily set up in position anywhere for use.

We prefer to make our booths folding and portable, but it is obvious that they could be made with their shelves and partitions permanently held together, as seen in Fig. 11, which form cannot be folded or readily dismantled, but is in a limited measure portable. This form could be made stationary or permanently attached in place on a floor or elsewhere, if desired, in any suitable manner, which needs no description herein.

It is obvious that our booth can be used outside, on the pavement, street, or elsewhere, as well as within, in which event it would be best to surmount it with a suitable canopy or cover, to shelter the voters and their ballots from the sun and the rain.

Instead of cutting the shelves from the partitions in sector form, as above described, they could obviously be cut in the ordinary equilateral or other triangular form, with the fore edge of each straight instead of curved, as seen in Fig. 9, or they may each be made of a piece of material entirely independent of the partition, and the latter remain perfectly intact throughout, as shown in Fig. 10, in which view the shelf is omitted. It is also obvious that, instead of the shelves being hinged at one edge, each could be provided with bedstead-fastenin gs at both inner edges and detachably connected with the partitions Without altering the result, except that when the parts are folded the shelves would thus be loose or entirely detached from the partitions and liable to be separated therefrom, and mislaid or lost, unless other special provision is made for their attachment, which,

of course, would be quite possible and readily provided for.

It is obvious that our structure could be advantageously used for many purposes other than as an election-booth, among them being the following: As a number or cluster of closely concentrated secret writing apartments or stalls for the use of the'public in banks, post-offices, telegraph-offices, newspaper-offices, chambers of commerce, and all similar public places. It could be made to contain any number of inclosures, the amount really depending on the size and purpose of each, and the number and depth'of each partition, and also the number of shelves and width of each shelf used. It could readily be placed anywhere convenient, in a room or elsewhere, and moved from place to place to suit the source and character of light or illumination, and the position of surrounding objects, and is also readily accessible to those desiring to use it.

In Fig. 11, we have shown an opening formed by notching each partition adjacent the inner corner of each shelf, and a single large ink-well e placed therein for the occupants of all the apartments to use in common, which is a decided advantage, not capable in any but a radiating form of booth or writing-structure, such as we show anddescribe herein.

In Fig. 13 we have shown the manner in which the several shelves can be reinforced or braced, to prevent accidental breakage or splitting thereof, should those using them lean thereon too heavily. The reinforce is composed of a flat iron bar D, preferably countersunk in the bottom face of the shelf and secured thereto by means of screws, At one end of the bar D, a catch 1) may be constructed integral therewith, to engage the socket b and dispense with the separate catch 12 shown in some of the previous views, and hereinbefore described.

It is obvious that our structure could be arranged so as to contain but one or more seetor-shaped inclosures, the number depending entirely on the number of radial partitions and accompanying shelves used, a single pair of radial partitions being necessary for a single apartment booth, one more partition and shelf only being necessary for each additional booth.

In Fig. 11, we have also shown how the partitions or side-walk A could be utilized for displaying directions, rules, advertisements, and the like, and construct therein, above each shelf, a colored or ground glass panel F, upon which said directions or other matter are printed, or otherwise applied. These panels being translucent, no view of adjoining occupants, or their ballots, or other writing-matter is possible, but at the same time the light readily passes or shines through them, which materially aids in illuminating other similar purposes, composed of a circular cluster or series of upright radial partitions, and horizontal shelves interposed between and supported by said partitions each of said shelves being pivotally secured to one partition and adapted to be detachably secured to the adjacent partition, and said partitions and shelves forming a circular cluster or series of apartments or inclosures, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a booth for voting, writing and other similar purposes, the combination with two or more radially disposed partitions, each being provided with a notch or recess in its inner edge of a horizontal triangular shelf for each partition, the latter being hinged at the edge to the upper wall of the recess of one partition, and adapted to be detachably connected, at its other inner edge, with the adjoining partition, whereby the structure may be readily disconnected and folded in small compass when not in use, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a booth for voting, writing and other similar purposes, the combination of two or more upright radial partitions, and one or more horizontal triangular shelves, the latter being cut from the, former, and supported thereby, substantially as herein. set forth.

4. In a booth for voting, writing and other similar purposes, the combination of two or more upright radial partitions pivotally connected together at their inner ends and radiating from a common center, by means of hinges or other similar suitable devices, each of said partitions being provided with a notch or recess upon its inner edge, a socket upon one side of the partition, a portion of which socket overlaps the recess and one or more horizontal, triangular shelves supported by said partitions, each of said shelves being provided with a recess on the side adjacent the socket, substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a booth for voting, writing, and other similar purposes, the combination with a circular series of radial partitions and horizontal, triangular writing-shelves, of a recess or opening E, constructed in the partitions adjacent the inner corners of said shelves and adapted to receive an ink-well e to be used by the occupants of all the inclosures in common, substantially as herein set forth.

In testimony of which invention we have hereunto set our hands.

JOHN W. SHRAGUE. GUSTAVUS A. SHRAGUE.

IIO

Witnesses:

W. W. SYMMEs, JOHN E. J ONES. 

